SGV’s Holiday Lights & Fun

We are simply suckers for holiday decorating, whether it’s inside or out, one tree on a small lawn, or a mansion decked to the hilt. In case you do as well, here are some holiday “holiday lighting” sights to see, as well as local holiday events.

Do you have any experiences to share? Events, streets, or neighborhoods to recommend?

Altadena:
Balian House, the 1922 Mediterranean villa owned by ice cream magnate George Balian, is located at the fork of Mendocino Lane and Glenview Terrace off of Allen Avenue. The Ballian family started their “holiday lights” tradition in 1955. They began with 10,000 colored lights and now that number bulbs is needed just for the front walkway.

Christmas Tree Lane will hold their festival on December 8th at 2 p.m. and have the official lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. The lights will be up to enjoy until January 1st, 2013. It’s located on Santa Rosa Avenue between Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive. If you would like to volunteer to help set up the lights, you can show up this Saturday & Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Highland Park:
Heritage Square’s Annual Holiday Lamplight Celebration is Saturday and Sunday, December 1st & 2nd from 4 p.m. to 8:45 p.m, with a Victorian re-telling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol while costumed ghosts guide visitors from house to house where the past, present, and future are experienced with more costumed actors. At the end of the tour there will be warm apple cider and “tasty treats” and the museum store will be open for holiday gift buying.

Tickets are $20 and to make reservatons, visit Heritage Square or call 323.225.2700, ext. 223.

La Cañada Flintridge:
On the first Friday of December, the town’s Festival in Lights will include Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving on an antique “sleigh,” the lighting of the gazebo, and caroling by the Palm Crest Elementary School Melody Makers, the Chamber Singers of La Cañada High, and Paradise Canyon Elementary School. Located at Memorial Park on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and La Cañada, from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Monrovia:
Santa Breakfasts begin Saturday, December 1st and run through the 24th with free gifts for the kiddies. This Saturday at The Peach Cafè at 9:45 a.m. and Friends Cafè noon to 8 p.m. Visit oldtownmonroviaca.com to get complete listing of participating restaurants.

Tree Lighting & Holiday Parade will be Thursday, December 6th with the tree to be lit at 6 p.m. and the parade to start at 7 p.m.

Musicians and carolers take to the streets of Old Town Monrovia as does “Secret Santa” all the way through Christmas Eve.

Montrose:
Their Christmas tree lighting was last weekend, but every weekend, all through the month, the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue will have horse drawn trolley and pony rides, strolling carolers, and Santa handing out candy canes. Visit shopmontrose.com for details.

Pasadena:Paseo Colorado‘s tree lighting celebration is Friday, Nov. 30th, 6-8 p.m. Santa Claus will make an appearance and there will be performances by Lineage Dance, holiday carolers, and Charlotte Sometimes, runner-up on Season 2 of NBC’s The Voice.

Photo courtesy of the Pasadena Museum of History

The Pasadena Museum of History is having a holiday open house this Sunday, December 1st from noon to 5 p.m. There will be free admission to their ongoing exhibits Pacific Electric, Now and Then that has some stunning historical photos and What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been: 35 Years of the Doo Dah Parade, which is simply silly, bizarre, incredibly creative, and a very well put-together show (with its own stunning photographs). There will be live holiday music, delicious snacks and beverages. Kids can make handcrafted Christmas tree ornaments or a holiday keepsake with Craftsmaster Helen Marish from Art 2 Go. For more information, call 626.577.1660, ext. 10.

San Gabriel:
Downtown’s Mission district will have it’s holiday tree lighting on Tuesday, December 4th, 6-8 p.m. in Plaza Park at 428 S. Mission Drive.

San Marino:
St. Albans Road. A very short block and the decorated pine trees are between Huntington Drive and Monterey Road, right next to Lacy Park.

South Pasadena:
Santa will be visiting this Thursday night’s South Pasadena Farmers’ Market while Mayor Cacciotti will light the official city Christmas tree (5:30 p.m.). Refreshments will be provided by the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation in the Ironworks Museum and there will be music by the Los Angeles Children’s Orchestra and the South Pasadena High School Band. Tanya Alexis will also be available for pictures with Santa. For details, visit southpaschamber.org.

Just for fun, here’s Charlotte Sometimes who will be performing at Paseo Colorado on Friday: